Book 1: Chapter 92

It started to pour sometime in the evening and only got worse as it dawned on the third day. I sat in my chair my fingers laced together, my chin resting on them. My eyes glazed over as I stared nothing, listening to the rain hit the top of my tent. Three days I hadn’t slept. I’d filled my time with everything but sleeping. Battle plans, final checks of troops, Silas’ territory terrain, the endless trails of goodbyes from my warriors. 

Nate had come at the behest of a few of my warriors. They were worried when I started mulling about the tents looking like the grim reaper was holding me up. He came in, didn’t say a thing as he picked me up and deposited me back into my chair inside my tent. Staying with me for a couple hours, we spoke about everything and nothing. We talked about the old house that we dreamed as kids. I shook my head as Nate tried to remember the color schemes of all the bedrooms. For a while, it was a break from the current and impending situation. Eventually though, he was called back to the pack house.

Then there was Keri who was bothering me for every little thing from the chef’s wooden spoon breaking to some of the guys boots were ripping and letting water in. I knew though that if I slowed down, if I laid down to rest, then I wouldn’t wake up.

Speak of the devil, my tent flap opened and Keri raced in. I sat up straight and looked at her and she shook herself off.

“Goddess be damned if she thought we needed rain on top of this bullshit.”

I chuckled. “I think it sounds nice.”

“Says the wolf who has gone bat shit crazy. Have you still not slept?”

Shaking my head, I grabbed the mug of hot tea I had made and took a sip.

“Alpha, I swear. You’re just making this harder on yourself.”

“I promise you, I’m not. How can I help you?”

She sighed and cracked her neck. “I spoke to Alpha Silas regarding…”

Her voice froze as trumpets started to sound throughout the camp. At first, it was on the far end but a second and then a third sounded. My eyes widened and I stood up. Grabbing my uniform, I threw on my jacket and Keri came forward, helping me button it up. Once it was closed, she started to pin all my medals and attach my cape. It was overboard but if this is how I was going to die, then by goddess I would be in full uniform.

Reaching out, I grabbed my belt which my two swords already clipped on. They knocked together, breaking the silence for a moment as Keri helped me. I brought the belt around my waist and pulled them tight, securing them in place. My boots were already on as Keri came around and pulled my disheveled hair into a top-knot on my head. Turning, I looked in the mirror and outside of my gaunt face with the dark circles, I took my place among my fellow princes.

“Do I need goggles for outside?”

She chortled. “At this point, it might help. Of all the fucking times.”

“We need to go, now Beta.” I growled and ran out of my tent.

The camp had erupted in chaos. All my warriors were running around like chickens with their heads cut off. It didn’t help that I could barely keep my eyes open with the rain that was pouring down. Putting my fingers to my lips, I let out one of the loudest whistles I could possible do. All commotion stopped around me.

Taking a deep breath, I let a command ripple through the entire encampment. “Get your shit together. If you are already dressed, meet me at the front the lines. If you haven’t hurry your ass up. Focus. We have Hunters to kill.”

The camp erupted in cheers and howls. Suddenly, their crazy chaos turned into methodical thundering. Keri and I jogged to the front of the camp and further south. Most of my force was ready and waiting. They all stood to attention as I walked through them.

“Status report!”

One of my boys raced up to Keri and I as we walked to the front. “Alpha, Groups 2, 3, and 5 spotted Hunters running through the forest. They spread out and traced them forward. They have a force.”

“How many?”

“With the rain and the distance, we our guesstimate is around two hundred, maybe two-fifty.”

My eyes widened and I looked down at him. “I didn’t even think there were still two hundred of them left.”

“Neither did I.” He whispered.

Taking a deep breath and wiping some of the rain of my face, I rolled my shoulders. “Is it just Hunters?”

He nodded. “As soon as we raised the banner of the Rogue King, all rogues they had employed, vacated the area. Most didn’t even stay within state lines.”

I chuckled. “They know what’s best for them. The Hunters would have just killed them afterwards anyways.” I took a deep breath. “Alright. We are going to go with the Violet plan. Alert the force.” Turning to Keri, I motioned her with me. “Let’s go.”

Keri and I made it into a more central position as the trumpets relayed the plan of action that we had chosen. Behind me, my warriors adjusted their ranks to accommodate the new plan. It was more spread out but it would ensure the pack was better protected from the sides. We always tried to minimize casualties but our army took pride in making sure the ones we were protecting didn’t lose a single warrior. Sometimes that meant a few of us went down, but it was an honor to die as warriors fighting for something we all believed in.

One of the Silas’ warriors was running down the front line in wolf form. He quickly shifted, almost sliding into us.

“Alpha Prince.” He nodded. “Alpha Silas wanted to relay that his pack is in position on both sides of territory.”

I nodded. “Good. I’m glad he was able to mobilize so quickly. Anything else, wolf?”

He shifted nervously. “Alpha…Alpha said…”

Putting my hand on his shoulder, I smiled. “I don’t shoot the messenger. You are only relaying your Alpha’s words. I understand.”

Nodding, he took a deep breath. “Alpha requested that you are to be escorted back to the pack house for the remainder of the day.”

I burst out laughing. Keri next to me even laughed. The wolf looked shocked for a moment and the guys who had heard him, chortled. Shaking my head, I rolled my eyes. Goddess, Silas was incorrigible. Fucking hell.

“The audacity!” Keri was still laughing next to me.

Looking back down at the wolf, I chuckled again. “You tell your Alpha that he can shove that request right up his own ass. Now go. Your pack needs you.”

He nodded and turned. Shifting into his wolf form, he raced away into the rain until I couldn’t see him anymore. Turning, I put my hand on my sword.

“I didn’t realize how much I needed that.” I chuckled again.

“Goddess, talk about a mood lightener. That Alpha has some balls.”

Turning to Keri, I clasped her arm tight. She looked at me in the eyes. “It was a pleasure, working with you all these years, Beta. I’m sorry that there aren’t more but I’m glad to stand by your side a final time.”

Her smile turned sad and she nodded as well. “It has been a pleasure, my prince. You have taught me more than anyone in my life. My life has forever been changed since I have met you.”

My hand squeezed her arm before I let go. Turning back to the forest, I could hear the thundering of the Hunters footfalls. Pulling out my sword from it’s sheath, I took a deep breath.

“Today, we make the world a safer place. Today, we have the opportunity to rid the world of murderers and soulless animals. We get to rid the world of all the Hunters within this fucking continent. Take no prisoners, show no mercy because you will receive none.”

I scanned the wolves before me, all dressed in their full uniforms just as I was. Some of them I’d known nearly as long as Noah and Finn. “Today, will be my last day with you all. I want you to know, that in all my life, I have had no higher honor than standing by your side as we fought for our kind. All of you have left an impression on me, shaped me and molded me in some shape or form. I want you to continue our work, our outreach, our assistance to others in making their lives better. Showing the world that being rogues doesn’t mean we are feral.” 

Nodding for a moment, I smiled as I continued. “I biggest regret would have been to just simple pass on. Being here with all of you, fighting by your side, is where I was always meant to be. The Moon Goddess also has deemed it so as well. I want your best. Show me what you’re made of. Show me you belong to the First Alpha Prince’s army. Show me why we are the best. Why we are unmatched. Why we have never and will not lose a single battle. Show me what your made of and show these fuckers who they are messing with!”

There were no howls, no cheers coming from my warriors. Instead, they stomped their left foot. It was rhythmic and as each of them pounded against the ground, it sent a shockwave through the earth. Taking a deep breath, I glanced at Keri one more time. Her daggers were poised to kill in her hands. My eyes found the first movement in the woods ahead.

My body shook as I unleashed the power that I had been holding back for so long. It consumed me, and in the darkness, my eyes glowed golden. Spreading my power out, my warriors howled into the rain. All too soon, bodies clashed and the battle began.